I visited the shelter and saw the cute kittens and adult cats for adoption. So many sweet cats. The shelter is very clean and you can tell how much they care about the well-being of the cats there. Then I got to go up to the 3rd floor and see the shy cats. I got to feed chicken baby food to some of them from my finger. One cat let me pet him while he ate (a testimony to the volunteers that have been working with him), and maybe about 10 others let me offer my finger and licked off the baby food. It made me feel so good. I can’t wait to go through orientation so that I can start doing weekly visits.

It was so good to be with the cats. I have been without a cat for 8 months now, and I miss having one. I will be checking out the cats at the shelter. Who knows how long before I bring home a new feline companion (or two).

I am also seeing other cats this week. The end of August is the busy season for pet sitting and I still have a few cat sitting clients. So I’ll be feeding some of my cat friends this week.

In September one of my cat sitting clients called and said her allergies were getting worse and did I think I could take in her cat Gracie? I thought about it and said yes. So I am owned by a cat once again.

Gracie is a 16-year old tortoiseshell cat. She has big beautiful eyes and soft fur. She likes to nap in the sun. She likes to talk. I’ve known her for 5 years from cat sitting for her. She’s never seemed to like me all that much, because whenever she saw me, I was trying to get some medicine in her that she didn’t like. So at first when she was here, she tried to hide from me behind the couch and under the bed, and I had to keep doors closed and block access to under and behind the couch with pillows and books. But she seemed to realize I’m not so bad after all and we are close now. I’ve managed to switch one of her medicines from a sticky liquid I had to give by mouth to a powder I can mix in her food, which is so much better for both of us. She also likes the Reiki and massages that I give her.

It’s been 2 months now and I’m so happy she came here to be with me. Someone asked why I took in such an ‘old cat’, but how could I not? What does age have to do with it? I’ve had several cats that have come to me in their teens. We’ve had great years together. Maybe not as many as I would have if I had gotten a younger cat, but Gracie and I seem meant to be together. And that’s good enough for me.

I have developed a following, if you will. There are some cats that settle in near me, close their eyes and seem to be enjoying the energy. There are a couple of cats who repeatedly dart in and out of the room, as though they can only handle short bursts of it. There are a few who stay where they are on the other side of the room, and by the way they look at me, or how they relax and settle in, seem to indicate that they are receiving the Reiki also.

Rhonda, one of the cats in the socialization program, came out of her cubby in a cat tree (where she is most often) and lay down and the floor about 5 feet from me. I was surprised, for even though the people who work with her say she likes to be brushed a little, she has run from me (I’m fairly new, so I’m hoping with time she’ll get used to me) when I’ve approached her with baby food. So, here she was, sprawled out in front of the water bowls, closed her eyes and seemed to just soak up the energy. I waited until she had enough and got up and went back to the cat tree before I got up and moved to the other room. The next week she didn’t come out onto the floor, but came out of her cubby and lay on one of the cat tree platforms. When I read the notes for the socialization program, it was reported that Rhonda had made great progress and was allowing more petting and brushing. I was happy reading this, as I am sure that the Reiki I offer there had something to do with it.

P.S. That is Rhonda in the picture

Over the years, I have adopted several older cats – 8 that were 10 yrs. old or older. The oldest was 16. So, I went through their later years earlier in our relationship than if they had been younger when they came to me. I also was a cat sitter and cared for some older cats.

It is not uncommon for cats now to live well into their teens or even into the twenties. My cat Kitty was 22, and George and Bogey were 19 when they transitioned.

There are a few illnesses that are common in aging cats. PetMD lists 7 illnesses as most common: Kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, hyperthyroidism, dental disease and cancer. I have experienced all of these except for diabetes in my own cats. I cared for a couple of sweet older cats with breast cancer during my time as a cat sitter.

You can manage some of these with medication, others with other means.

Kidney disease can be helped with diet and sub-1 fluids (using an IV to administer fluids into the space under the skin of the cat).

Heart disease can be treated with the same types of medication for humans – diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium channel-blockers, aspirin, ACE inhibitors and blood pressure drugs.

Diabetes can be managed by diet and insulin injections.

Arthritis pain can be helped with supplements, flower essences, or pain medications.

Hyperthyroidism can be managed with medication, removal of the thyroid gland, or radioactive treatment (which requires a 10-14 day stay at the treatment facility).

Dental disease comes in different forms, periodontal disease, tooth resorption and stomatitis being three. Affected teeth may need to be extracted. I have had a few cats (including my 7 1/2 cat Penelope who had 4 teeth removed due to periodontal disease and tooth resorption this week). Cats can still eat after having teeth removed.

Cancer rates in cats are half of that in dogs, but in cats it tends to be a more aggressive form. Treatments for cancer include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

This has been just an overview of what can occur in our beloved aging cats. I recommend annual exams by your veterinarian, and perhaps more frequent as your cat gets older. Blood tests can detect some diseases early, so treatment can be started sooner, and your cat may have a longer life.

I hope this has been helpful. Please comment on your experiences below. I plan to write more about our aging pets, and how we can help them with the aging process, and ultimately help them and ourselves through the end of their life.

One way to do that is to have energetic healing sessions when they are not feeling well or are stressed. Animals are very sensitive to energy, and they can take on our stress and anxiety. This can lead to them having stress, illness and even behavioral issues.

Reiki is a Japanese healing energy technique that can help physical or emotional issues. The word Reiki translates into universal life force energy. In Japanese, Rei = Universal and Ki = Life Force Energy. It is ideal for animals because it does not require hands-on contact, and it is gentle and non-invasive. Animals are very receptive to energy healing. Reiki is just as effective by distance as it is hands-on. It is not a substitute for veterinary care, but can be a great addition to treatments they are receiving.

The night that turned out to be his last, I sat on the floor with him for hours. He would come into my lap, leave after a bit, and return later. When he came into my lap, or let me pick him up, I gave him all the Reiki and love that I could, until he passed away in my arms. I like to think the Reiki helped him make a peaceful transition. It felt that way to me.

A few months later, when I received a Reiki Master attunement by distance, I was laying down on my bed. I felt Bogey come and lay next to my head, as he had when he was alive. I felt he wanted to help me advance in my Reiki practice.

I have given Reiki to several of my cats and other animals and they all seemed to enjoy it. They relax and close their eyes. Animals are very receptive to energy healing. They do not always want to be touched. Bogey came to me, and did want me to touch him. For cats that are not my pets, I start from a distance and send the intention that the animal has the choice of whether to accept the Reiki healing energy or not. Sometimes they keep a distance, or gradually come closer, and sometimes they come right up and want me to put my hands on them. They also decide how long a treatment they need. It may be a few minutes, or longer. I leave it up to them.

There is also Reiki by distance, which is what I have mostly done. For that, I sit and focus on the animal (I don’t always know what they look like), and send the energy to them. It works.

Check out my Services page for my Reiki for animals offerings.